THE church has taught generosity since its birth. However, we still have people who have sworn never to give to the church cause especially to the pastor. If you’re a pastor, treat your congregation well but look up to God. Remove your eyes from the station in life of church members.
Apostle Paul quotes Deuteronomy 25:4 in 1 Corinthians 9:9-11, “[9] For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? [10] Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. [11] If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?”
Here, he proves that the pastor needs to be looked after by the congregation. Apostle Paul makes it even clearer in 1 Timothy 5:17, Amplified, “The elders who perform their leadership duties well are to be considered worthy of double honor (financial support), especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching [the word of God concerning eternal salvation through Christ].” The congregation should take care of its pastor.
I like how Apostle Paul covers all possible scenarios. In case, the church cannot support the pastor, he says in Acts 20:34, New Living Translation, “You know that these hands of mine have worked to supply my own needs and even the needs of those who were with me.” He didn’t compromise the Gospel by hammering the congregation till they give. He worked for himself and taught other aspects of the Gospel.
While we’re still in the neighbourhood, many times some think that the rich will give more. That’s not the norm. I have gone out on crusade missions in remote areas and been received and made comfortable to teach and pray by villagers. The civil servants, especially teachers who are looked down upon, sustain big congregations and make ministry better.
If we go to the flip side, we see pastors who preach for the stomach. Before I delve into it, I know a pastor whose ministry do pastor’s appreciation. When he was transferred, food, especially sugar, was melting in the pantry because he had groceries to cover more than a year. Your guess is as good as mine that probably there were members who didn’t know where their next meal was coming from while the pastor’s food was decaying.
This leads us to Ezekiel 34. As we have already seen, those who labour in doctrine or go deep in Scriptures to nurture the flock deserve double salary as it were. But there are those who propagate a gospel to siphon money, cars, houses out of the congregation.
The Bible is sobering in Ezekiel 34:2-3, “[2] Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? [3] Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock.”
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Their gospel kills the soul of the congregation. After trying anointing apples and bricks, they come back to us for the true Gospel of Christ. Others run away from the Faith after the promises don’t materialise. They take all that you have and tell you that your faith was little or you haven’t brought your Isaac offering. So cunning!
They don’t go for evangelism but advertise with stage managed miracles. Their teaching is that they have to live in better mansions and drive better for the anointing to fall on the flock. On this scale, Jesus then was a failure. You don’t know Jesus as the rich Man from Galilee or Nazareth but probably know your pastor for her/his wealth rather than words of eternal salvation.
Hear these words of correction in Ezekiel 34:4, “The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.”
We, teachers cannot escape the day of separation of the wheat and tares. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. Grace and peace be multiplied to you through knowledge.
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